Sunday, December 30, 2012

My 2012 in Review


Happy 2013, everyone. New Year, new Baktun. One more threshold crossed, and Here We Go Again.

It should come as no surprise to faithful readers that the two stories that dominated our household in 2012 were the “never-ending” move, and Margarian’s health.  Long story short, I succeeded in selling both my father’s and Margarian’s mother’s properties, and have begun consolidating the Shtuff to try to make it fit into the new house (calling Hoarders Canada…). Upcoming for 2013 is to finish the move from and sale of the Falconridge townhouse (farewell, Gyda, I’m sorry we never really talked), executing the perilous horcrucio tontinarum* spell, and trying to live within our means again.  And finally dealing with a tax accountant. Yuck.

Margarian’s health took a turn for the worse with her fall immediately after the Evergreen picnic on July 21, resulting in a dislocated shoulder. Untended nerve damage to her feet from her diabetes also resulted in open wounds that wouldn’t heal, and her weakened state left me playing extreme caregiver for a month. We finally put her in hospital in mid-August, where she has stayed ever since. The feet are healing, she’s been fighting abdominal bugs common in hospitals (putting her in isolation for the last couple of months), and she finally stood for herself momentarily just before Christmas. Upcoming in 2013 is her move to the Fanning Centre, and a period of rehab to get her strength back. I also need to make more preparations at the house for her eventual return.

Looking in my crystal ball, I see more initiations and elevations for Evergreen folk this year (some long overdue – you know who you are). If I can complete the moving by spring (or summer, *sigh*), maybe I can get a real vacation, if only to do some travelling in B.C. to visit friends and family.

January Birthdays:  This month, Hergest’s Magick Mirror sees Angela S., Ethne, Christine S., Brigid, Jarek, Gayle, Jessica H., Tiamat, Sarah Mc, John S., Paulie, and Margie F.  Happy Birthday, everyone! Let me know if I’ve missed yours.

January Events:
Note these events are listed for information purposes only.  Dates and locations may be subject to change; see the source for details.  If I’ve missed anyone and you’d like to add to this listing, please contact me.

Jan. 5, 7:30 p.m.: COGCOA Coffee Cauldron. Info at cogcoa dot ab dot ca.
Jan. 7, 7:00 p.m.: Beyond the Book of Shadows presents Introduction to Qi Gong.  Info: http://www.meetup.com/Beyond-the-book-of-Shadows/
Jan. 11, 12:44 p.m. New Moon. Celtic Tree-Month of Luis (Rowan) begins.
Jan. 15, 7:30 p.m.: Calgary Witches’ Meetup, in south Calgary, led by moi. Info:  http://www.meetup.com/Calgary-Witches
Jan. 26, 7:30 p.m. sharp: COGCOA Imbolc Ritual.
Jan. 26, 9:38 p.m.:  Full (Wolf) Moon.
Jan. 27, 1:00 p.m.: Cochrane Wiccan Meetup, location TBA. See Jan. 15.

Blessings,
Hergest

*Horcrucio Tontinarum: Working on the principle that hoarders invoke their life-force into their possessions, this spell re-allocates said life-force/energy/qi into possessions not disposed of, until the last remaining possession contains all accumulated life-force, which can be re-absorbed by the owner. Failure to consider and execute this spell indirectly led to the demise of He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named. (With apologies to JKR.)

Thursday, December 06, 2012

The Big Adios



Happy December, everyone.
In three short weeks, the wheels within wheels of the Mayan calendar, like a giant clock or spirograph, will come full circle. Some say this means the end of the world, but I prefer to think of it as being the beginning of new Age of humanity. (Hopefully the Bad Stuff that’s been affecting a lot of us the last few years will begin to turn around.) There’ll be a lot of end-of-the-world parties that night, including a concert at Vern’s Pub featuring many guitarists, including the amazing Vanessa. Some of us who survive the Rapture plan to be up at the Stones again on the morning of the 21st, to watch the Sun come up, celebrate that we’re still here, and welcome the beginning of celestial Winter. As always, contact me if you’re interested.
As I mentioned last month, Starhawk passed through Calgary last week. The Thursday talk on permaculture went a little over my head, but was a great opportunity for networking and community-building, and gave me food for thought about letting the urban forest that’s been trying to burst forth in my backyard to do so. It ended with a Spiral Dance for the 130+ attendees, leading to a wonderful cone of power to send healing into the city.
Her Friday event at Memorial Park Library sponsored by CommunityWise was only partly a painfully funny reading from her recent book, The Empowerment Manual: A Guide for Collaborative Groups. “An Evening with Starhawk” also included a number of exercises on group and peer process for a mixed group of social activists, witches, and anarchists.

 
December Birthdays: Jessica C., Ziggy, Searia, Holly N., Dianne D, Heather Dawn, J.C., and some of my Facebook friends. Let me know if I’ve missed yours.

 
December Events:
Note these events are listed for information purposes only. Dates and locations may be subject to change; see the source for details. If I’ve missed anyone and you’d like to add to this listing, please contact me.

 
To Dec. 2: Festival of Crafts at BMO Centre. Info: http://www.festivalofcrafts.ca/
Dec. 1: World AIDS Day.
Dec. 1, 7:30 p.m.: COGCOA Coffee Cauldron. Info at cogcoa dot ab dot ca.
Dec. 5, 7:00 p.m.: Beyond the Book of Shadows Meetup Social Moot. Info: http://www.meetup.com/Beyond-the-book-of-Shadows/
Dec. 6: Anniversary of L’Ecole Polytechnique Montreal Massacre, 1989.
Dec. 13, 1:42 a.m. New Moon. CelticTree-Month of Beth (Birch) begins.
Dec. 15, 7:30 p.m. sharp: COGCOA Yule Ritual.
Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m.: Calgary Witches’ Meetup, in north Calgary, led by moi. Info: http://www.meetup.com/Calgary-Witches
Dec. 20: Guitars, Guts & Glory at Vern’s, 622 – 8 Ave. SW, with Vanessa Cardui and many others. Party like it’s the end of the world. $5 cover, 18+
Dec. 21, 4:12 a.m. Winter Solstice. World ends.
Dec. 21, 7:45 a.m.: Solstice Sunrise Vigil at Strathcona-Christie Community Centre.
Dec. 28, 3:21 a.m.: Full (Cold) Moon.

 
Blessings,
Hergest





Labels: , ,